Old-school Sundays: the late Mr. Perfect, Curt Hennig
Man, oh man. These Old-School Sundays sure can be bittersweet. As much as reliving these great matches and heroes from yesteryear is exciting and nostalgic, it is equally tragic in cases such as with this week’s spotlighted performer, the late, great Curt Hennig, Mr. Perfect. Born as the son of the famous Larry “The Ax” Hennig, Curt earned his stripes in the old American Wrestling Assocation (AWA) — eventually becoming the AWA World Champion — before heading over to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) to become the immortal Mr. Perfect, a gimmick reportedly mirror-close to Hennig’s own personna. From the swatting of his gum on the way to the ring, to that dead-perfect heel smugness, to the in-ring precision few could match, Hennig could seemingly do it all. He eventually met his demise as a victim to his own “personal demons” as the cliche goes, dying in a Florida hotel room due to cocaine intoxication at only 44-years of age — but his legacy lives on. Sadly, it is all we have left today of the great Mr. Perfect (although, of note, his son Joe is now a WWE prospect). Enjoy these Curt Hennig matches and clips,, taken from various points of his career, against some of the greatest to ever step foot in a squared circle — Japan’s Tiger Mask II (Mitsuharu Misawa); Bret “Hitman” Hart and “Nature Boy Ric Flair. Take a peek at the last video as well, a glimpse into Hennig’s snarky side in a little-remembered (but very funny) WCW angle as leader of a redneck group of cowboys feuding with Rey Mysterio’s group called the Filthy Animals.
- Mr. Mal
CLICK HERE for the conclusion of Curt Hennig - Tiger Mask!
CLICK HERE for the conclusion of Curt Hennig - Bret Hart!
 
CLICK HERE to see Old School Sundays - Pro Wrestling Flashbacks!
CLICK HERE for our EXCLUSIVE interview with JIMMY “MOUTH OF THE SOUTH� HART!!
September 16th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Ahhh yes he may be known as Mr. Perfect now but he will always be Cool Cat Curt Henning to me! Anyone remember when he was just Cool Cat? I saw him once when I was a kid in Anaheim, CA driving away in a red sports car with a hot woman. I have no Idea what Curt would have been doing in California in 1987 but I watched him as plain as day walk across the parking lot with the busty girl and drive away. I would have said hi but I was rooted to the ground in fear… this was the freaking AWA champ!
September 16th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
I remember him being billed as “Cool” Curt Hennig, but not the “Cat” portion. I don’t doubt it, though. The AWA changed their talent’s nicknames more than Mr. Mal changes his underwear.
Remember “Boom Boom” Bundy? Of course you don’t. He was better known as King Kong Bundy.
But speaking of King Kong . . . remember King Kong Brody? Probably not, eh? Ever heard of Bruiser Brody? Of course you have.
“Magnum” Scott Hall was another not-so-good one.
That’s a cool Hennig story, Hawkboy. He sure was a great one. One of the best-ever in Mr. Mal’s book, right up there Flair, Windham, Bret Hart, Steamboat, Michaels etc.